Virender Sehwag believes MS Dhoni: Former Indian captain has found fault with the Indian team management’s decision.
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During the first semi-final of the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between India and New Zealand at Lord’s, former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni coming in to bat at No. 7 in a low-scoring chase had attracted severe criticism from both fans and former cricketers.
With the opposition fast bowlers deceiving the Indian batsmen with both pace and swing, Dhoni would have been the solution to India’s problems under testing circumstances. The move would have also given him more time to get his eye in.
ALSO READ: Why India were wrong in sending Dinesh Karthik over MS Dhoni vs New Zealand
Coming in to bat at 71/5 in the 23rd over in a 240-run chase, Dhoni stitched a 116-run stand for the seventh wicket alongside all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Albeit in a losing effort, Dhoni registered his 73rd ODI half-century before getting out.
Virender Sehwag believes MS Dhoni
Former India opening batsman Virender Sehwag has become the latest high-profile who has found fault with the team management’s decision of not sending Dhoni up the order. Sehwag opined that both wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Hardik Pandya could have chased down the soaring required run rate in the slog overs.
“If MS Dhoni had come up to bat against New Zealand, situation could have been different. Dhoni should have batted when India needed to build the innings.
Hardik [Pandya] could have batted down the order when 9+ runs were needed. Hardik and [Rishabh] Pant could have chased down the high required rate if they came down the order,” Sehwag was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Going by media reports, India Batting Coach Sanjay Bangar was held responsible for deciding solely Dhoni’s batting position. However, Bangar denied the same in an interview after coming back to India.
